Concern about suburb’s heritage future

Mr Wooldridge said the society’s preference was for Mt Lawley and Inglewood to remain part of the City of Stirling, as the local government had developed stringent policies maintaining the character of the suburbs.

This is contrary to State Government plans which transfers the suburbs and Dianella to an expanded Bayswater local government, which also takes in the Town of Bassendean.

‘At present, the City of Bayswater does not have any meaningful regulatory system to protect the heritage properties that exist even within its current area,’ Mr Wooldridge said.

‘If ultimately the proposed amalgamation is to process as announced, there will be a social responsibility on Bayswater to ensure that adequate protection is in place prior to any handover in 2015.’

Stirling Mayor David Boothman said he did not support the planned boundary change, highlighting the fact that the City won the top WA Heritage Award last year for the policies in place in the suburbs.

These include the biennial City Heritage Awards, incentive and education programs and the development and review of character retention guidelines.

‘We’re going to have a discussion about it on Monday night at a workshop’